Orxateria I Xocolateria
Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo
At the beginning of the 18th century, Joan de s’Aigo was a Mallorcan entrepreneur who recruited men to collect snow in the Tramuntana mountain range, storing it in ice houses known as “cases de neu.”
These “cases de neu” were large pits dug into the mountain slopes, where snow was packed and preserved during winter. This snow was later compressed into blocks known as “pans de neu”, which served as the island’s ice supply in spring and early summer.
A portion of the “pans de neu” was transported to Palma, while the rest was distributed to towns across the island and sold for domestic use.
Joan de s’Aigo had the idea of mixing the meltwater from the “pans de neu” with fruit juice, creating what would become the precursor of modern ice cream.
By the 19th century, local ice production was no longer enough to meet demand, and ice began to be imported from Barcelona.
The first true ice cream made by Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo, as we know it today, was almond ice cream. The original almond mill used to prepare it is still on display at our Carrer Can Sanç location.
Not long after, Joan de s’Aigo began producing hot chocolate and ensaïmades.
Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo became, if not the oldest, one of the first chocolatiers in Europe.
Over time, the range expanded to include other types of ice cream and traditional pastries, most notably the famous “cuartos”.
Thanks to its more than 300 years of history, Ca’n Joan de s’Aigo has become deeply embedded in Mallorcan society, forming part of its cultural and social traditions. Even today, it is a local custom to enjoy chocolate and ensaïmades after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and ice cream after the Corpus Christi Mass.
Don Joan Martorell Pol took over the business from his father, Don Antoni Martorell, in 1974 and remained at the helm until his retirement in June 2011. Until almost the end of his life, he could often be found at his favorite table in the Baró de Pinopar location, chatting with friends and enjoying the atmosphere. He passed away on July 27th, 2011, at the age of 79.
The ice cream churn used until the late 20th century is still preserved at the Carrer Can Sanç location.